Monday, October 7, 2024
This was our last full day in Portugal. The Douro Elegance set sail early, and the soft morning sunlight, combined with partially cloudy skies, cast captivating patterns on the riverside landscape. After arriving at Folgosa Pier, we disembarked for our excursion to Vila Real.
—— Cruising on the Duoro River ——
The coach took us to the busy city of Vila Real, where we were first escorted to Gomes Bakery (Pastelaria Gomes) to enjoy a traditional cockscomb-shaped pastry, Cristas de Galo, paired with a cup of coffee. After savoring this tasty treat, we had an hour and a half to explore the city at our leisure.
During our wanderings, we unexpectedly discovered the Church of St. Peter (Igreja de São Pedro). As we made our way back toward the designated pick-up point, a light drizzle began, prompting our group to take shelter under eaves and a few table umbrellas as we waited for the coach to return.
—— Wandering around Vila Real ——
We were then driven for about 30 minutes to the renowned Mateus Palace (Palácio de Mateus). We walked a few blocks and around a lake on the grounds before entering the beautiful 18th century Baroque palace. Inside, we were guided through several rooms, each filled with impressive furnishings that reflected the nobility of the Mateus family. Among the many exquisite details, we admired antique furniture, ornate ceilings and door frames, fine paintings, antique books in a cozy library, and elegant keyboard instruments.
The palace is surrounded by extensive, meticulously designed formal gardens, and we were given the opportunity to explore them. However, as the rain began to fall heavily, I sought shelter before I could fully appreciate all the gardens had to offer. I took refuge in the palace’s chapel, which seamlessly blended into the rest of the palace’s architecture. The interior of the chapel continued the Baroque theme, with an elaborately carved and gilded altar, a high vaulted ceiling, and intricate wood trim and furnishings.
After leaving the chapel, I found shelter under a balcony to wait for the rest of the group, most of whom were better prepared for the rain than I was. As I made my way back to the bus, I became thoroughly soaked, but fortunately, the temperature was mild, making the trip back to the ship tolerable.
—— Mateus Palace ——
After returning to the ship and changing into dry clothes, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and spent a relaxing afternoon cruising back to Vila Nova de Gaia (Porto). At 6 p.m., we gathered in the lounge for a Farewell Cocktail, where the staff reintroduced themselves, offered their thanks, and bid us farewell.
Following the gathering, we were treated to a special Gala Dinner in the restaurant. The food was exquisite, and the company was even better, as we shared the meal with friends we had made during the cruise—Charlotte, Sherman, and two more Nancys. Our little group took the opportunity to savor Vinho Verde one last time. This light, crisp, slightly effervescent Portuguese wine had become a favorite of ours during the trip, and we’ll certainly miss it.
After dinner, Jane and I said farewell to Nancy and John M., then went up to the deck to enjoy the sparkling lights of Porto before heading back to our room to pack for tomorrow’s departure.
—— Farewell Gathering and Nightlights of Porto ——
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Today was our return journey home. The Smithsonian Journeys staff had organized their large group according to flight departure times. We were assigned to the orange group, scheduled for departure from the ship at 9 a.m. to catch our 12:35 p.m. flight. After enjoying breakfast, we made our final preparations, ensuring our bags were outside our door by 8 a.m., the designated time for our group.
Fortunately, we were among the last groups to leave the ship, so we felt for the fellow travelers who had to depart as early as 4 a.m. Once we checked that our luggage was loaded onto the shuttle bus, we boarded and headed to the airport. Despite a slight delay and heavy traffic, we arrived at Porto Airport (OPO), formerly known as Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, with plenty of time before our flight.
Our flights—Porto to Newark and then to Raleigh-Durham (RDU)—were uneventful, as comfortable as modern air travel can be. While the trip had been magnificent, there’s always something special about returning home after 25 days away. The diverse experiences we had in Spain and Portugal (and a bit in France) made this an unforgettable adventure, one that will stay with us for a long time.
—— Porto Airport (OPO) ——
